Headmaster’s Message
Head of Senior School
Head of Junior School
Chaplain
Issue 5 Term I, 2011

Academic • Christian • Caring

Have you noticed that your child is constantly weary, tired and lacking in
energy?
Some parents believe that such symptoms are typical of someone in their
teenage years, often presenting intermittently depending upon the degree
of interest in what is happening at the time - tidying a bedroom regularly
brings on such symptoms.
However, fatigue can be a serious problem for students of all ages and parents
need to be alert to the possible causes. These causes can be grouped into
three types and the following is a perspective that we have formed through
our observations as teachers.
Lifestyle-related causes of fatigue include:
•

Lack of sleep
Children in the Piper Centre will typically need 11-13 hours of sleep while
students in Year 12 will get by with around 8-9 hours of sleep. Parents
should ensure that there are no distractions reducing the quality and
quantity of sleep. For example, the peak time for the use of social media
such as ‘Facebook’ is 12.30am. I am yet to meet a parent that believes
their child is on-line at such a late hour - but the statistics say that there
are many people awake when they are thought to be asleep.

•

Poor diet

Stephen Kinsella

Low kilojoule diets, low carbohydrate diets or high energy foods that are
nutritionally poor don’t provide the body with enough fuel or nutrients to
function at its best. It is sad to say that chocolate, coffee and high energy
Headmaster
drinks, and most heavily processed foods give an initial boost and then
contribute to a worsening of fatigue. Parents would do well to seek advice
on the contents of lunchboxes – a quick solution on what a child eats during the day is not always the best for the student.
The School accesses advice on diet from nutritionist Susie Burrell (http://www.susieburrell.com.au).
•

Lack of regular exercise
Children need to be active to be healthy. One of the sad consequences of life in the 21st Century is that children are
often not as active as they need to be. Riding a bike or walking to school is now the exception rather than the norm.
Researchers say the benefits of regular exercise for a child include reduced fatigue due to better fitness, health and
general wellbeing.
Other factors that may cause fatigue for adults and some children may be too much sleep, alcohol and drugs, and sleep
disturbances.
Emotional concerns and stress can cause fatigue, including:

•

Depression
Researchers advise that around 10% of the population will experience some form of depression in any one year and that
the rates in children are even higher. A source of information on depression is www.beyondblue.org.au. Parents should
be alert to the symptoms of depression and seek medical assistance if concerned about their children.

•

Anxiety and stress
Most students are able to cope with the stresses of schooling and successfully complete further study and gain
employment after graduation. However, few would not experience anxiety and stress at some point along the way,
especially in Year 12. The School works hard to ensure that students keep perspective and balance in their lives. It is so
easy to elevate success in examinations and assessment tasks to a status greater than is healthy. We love our students
for who they are, not what they achieve. Parents concerned about elevated levels of anxiety and stress in their children
should immediately consult with staff.

•

Grief
The School should always be notified when a student experiences grief, such as the loss of a close family member. The
impact of the loss of a loved family pet should also not be discounted.

Medical causes also can contribute to fatigue and parents should keep the School advised of any relevant condition
identified by a medical practitioner so that staff can support the treatment plan and the recovery of the student.
Fatigue impairs the academic performance of students and their engagement in the broader scope of life experiences so
important in the development of children into complete and fulfilled adults. Fatigue may be just a ‘stage’ but it is important
that families and the School are vigilant to ensure there are not more serious causes that need attention.
A useful source of information on fatigue can be found at
pages/Fatigue_explained?open.

Stephen Kinsella
Headmaster

http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/

Chaplain’s Connection

These days, there are a multitude of wild stories doing the rounds on the internet and in
emails. How do you know if a story is true or not? Many a preacher or public speaker has
been caught out using one of these stories, only to find out it had no basis in truth.
Fortunately, there are also on the internet websites such as Snopes (www.snopes.com),
who look into the origins of some of these stories, so that you might know where the truth
lies.
I read a story the other day that had me turning to Snopes. Apparently, so the story
goes, Charlie Chaplin, the great comedian, once entered a Charlie Chaplin look-alike
competition – and came third!
I looked it up on Snopes and, lo and behold, they say the story is true! It seems that,
around 1915, as ‘Chaplinitis’ swept America, Charlie Chaplin look-alike contests became
a popular form of entertainment. (Well, technically, it was Chaplin’s moustached, funnywalking, ‘tramp’ character that people were attempting to copy). And, apparently,
Charlie Chaplin himself entered one of these contests, in a San Francisco theatre. Reports
don’t record exactly where he finished, but they do confirm that he failed even to make
the finals!
It reminded me of that conversation that Jesus had with his disciples about what God
was like. It comes at that moment when Jesus tells them that he is going to be leaving
them – but only to prepare a place for them in his Father’s mansion. He then tells them that
they know the way to where he is going ...
Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the
way?”
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father
except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on,
you do know him and have seen him.”
Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”
Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a
long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the
Father’? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me?” (John
14:5-9).

John Reed
Chaplain

All they want is to see God. And Jesus tells them: ‘You know him - he’s right here in front of you!’ Jesus and the Father are one.
Time and space don’t permit a complex analysis of what theologians have coined ‘The Trinity’, but Jesus is making it clear that
he’s not just some imitator, or poor reflection, of God. He is ‘in the Father’, and vice-versa. To know Jesus is to know God.
And yet, of course, like Charlie Chaplin, not everybody saw him for who he was ...

Good News

Senior School

This week Mr Lanyon and I were reviewing last year’s HSC results and this week’s Assembly.
We reflected on the fine students that we have and also we discussed the ‘good news
stories’ of students who had ‘turned a corner’ and achieved academic, sporting,
community or personal success after an inauspicious beginning to their school careers
or after going through a stage of development where they were less than respectful of
the rights of others. For most of these students this process had been one of regular and
unspectacular setting of boundaries, imposing of sanctions, reconciliation and restitution,
within the context of Christian love, justice and fairness.
For a few students, though, there was a pivotal moment when they had committed a
very serious breach of school rules and it was in the way that they and their parents
had dealt with the issue, in close collaboration with the school’s Pastoral Care team,
that had resulted in great outcomes for those students with benefits for everyone in the
school community. The entire community, not just the errant student, was and has been
enriched by their transformation.

Monica Watt

Deputy Headmaster and
Head of Senior School

What were the critical elements that led to such success? First, there was a real
acknowledgement, by the student, that they had done the wrong thing. There was no
shifting of blame, arguing about the involvement or influence of others or just plain lying.
They had broken the rules and they accepted responsibility for that fact. After the initial
distress on the part of the parent/s they too accepted and acknowledged that the rules
had been broken. Depending on the breach, sanctions were imposed or a process of
Restorative Justice undertaken. Parents worked with staff to support whatever sanctions
had been imposed.
Only the students themselves, their parents and the staff involved can know who they are
but we can all rejoice in their personal achievement and the significant impact that has
had on our school community and will have on society in the future.

Junior School

Professional Days – why have them?
Would you go to a surgeon who had trained 30 years ago, had done no Professional
Development and was practising medicine in the same way he or she had been trained?
I don’t think so and neither would I! In the same way I would not want my children to be
taught using the methodology of past eras. This is the reason for Professional Development
of teachers. In the Junior School, Professional Development takes many forms. Our staff;
admin, support and academic, regularly participate in Professional Development to
ensure that they are aware of current trends in their areas and applying them to our
situation here at TIGS. Staff attend conferences and courses individually to follow up
specific skills and knowledge. Several are pursuing their Masters in Educational Practice
and Leadership. Our Monday afternoon staff meetings routinely provide Professional
Development for our entire Junior School team.

Judi Nealy

Head of Junior School

Teachers as Learners – How to teach handwriting more effectively-Staff Meeting focus Term I

Many staff are pursuing their Masters individually and the TIGS Professional Development
days allow us as a staff to focus on crucial skills and understandings to benefit the children
who attend TIGS.
In the Junior School our Professional Development Day focus was
on the Primary Years Program looking specifically at planning
trans-disciplinary units of work. Teachers attended this training
over the Saturday in their own time and also on the Monday
for the Pupil Free day. I am always impressed by our staff’s
commitment to their own learning here at TIGS. This modelling
of lifelong learning allows us to implement best practice, to look
for continual improvement and to do our work well.
Dates for your diary
•
Friday 18 March - Karobran Parents
Welcome Luncheon

Teachers as Learners. Professional Learning Day Term 1

Junior School Sport

Nassa Junior Swimming
Congratulations to our successful Junior School swim team who once again won the
Champion School Team at the recent NASSA Junior Carnival. This was the ninth consecutive
win for our swimmers.
TIGS performed well in all relays with our senior boys and girls winning convincingly. We
also took out the ‘Best of the Best’ relay which comprises our best 9,10,11 and 12 year old
swimmers. The TIGS team members were Ruby Tilden, Austin Pallone, Justus Bacic-Johnston
and Hugo Mackenzie-Wood.
New records were set by two TIGS swimmers, Aria Bacic-Johnston in the 8 years girls 50mtr
Freestlye and Hugo Mackenzie-Wood in the 12 years boys 50mtr Breastroke.
17 swimmers have qualified to swim at the NSW combined Independent Schools carnival on the
22 March.

The Illawarra Grammar School invites and welcomes all members of
the community to visit the School and explore the Preparatory, Junior
and Senior Schools at the annual TIGS Expo Day.
This will be a great time to talk to your family and friends about our School
and what we have to offer. With Tours, Open Classrooms, Scholarship
Information, Performance, Art Displays and the opportunity to meet with
teachers and students, discover the advantages of a TIGS education.
Light refreshments will also be available on the day.
The School community of The Illawarra Grammar School looks forward to
welcoming you.

Science News
Science Gifted and Talented Discovery Program - 2011

This week, at assembly, I was privileged to inform Jaiden Fullerton-Harvey, one of our Year
9 students, of the outstanding results he achieved in a Science competition run by the
Science Faculty of the University of Sydney. Students from all over Australia participated in
the competition which aims to identify talented Science students and to provide them with
opportunities to participate in stimulating and challenging workshops at the University. The
workshops cover a range of exciting experiments in Chemistry, Biology and Physics.
The overall standard of the competition was very high, and the results achieved by the
twelve students from TIGS who participated were highly commendable. Jaidenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s result in the
competition was outstanding and, on the basis of his performance, he has been invited to
participate in the workshops.
Congratulations to Jaiden, and to each of the other students who participated in the
competition.
Martin Sormus
Head of Science

Uniform Shop
Year 7 2011 Information

Please note that Year 7 students who require a winter uniform should visit the Uniform Shop for
fittings from Week 8 until the end of Term.

All welcome to the 1st 2011 TIGS Great Fete meeting
Monday 21 March 2011 at 7.00pm in the Goodhew Research Centre (Library)
Please come along and share your ideas and suggestions.

P & F News
TIGS Great Fete Saturday 21 May

We have confirmed many of our “old favourite” stalls and
attractions and are busy trying to make the day easier for our
families. We have negotiated to have all rides serviced by
one provider so that a ride band or tickets will be accepted
for all rides. We may also have pre sales of ride bands. Watch
this space.
Also being worked out is the inclusion of a Reptile Show, an
African Stall and a Mechanical Bull.
Urgently seeking stall coordinators for 2nd Hand Clothing &
Accessories and White Elephant stalls. We are also looking for
apprentices to learn the ropes from this years coordinators
who have their youngest child in Year 11/12 this year. These
stalls include Books/CDs/DVDs, Fairy Floss, Chicken Satay and
the Devonshire Tea Room.
Please contact us (pandf@tigs.com.au Barb 0409 969044
Sheridon 0409 822273) if you would like more information.
Please click here for all the latest on the Fete.

All parents and guardians of any student in Year 10 2011 are
invited to attend a cocktail styled party to meet one another
on Saturday 2 April 2011 at 7.00pm at The Lagoon Seafood
Restaurant.
The cost will be around $30 per head plus drinks.
In order to make the booking firm, we need a min of 20
people so we are asking all those interested to please email
your response asap.
No doubt, many parents have already met however many
have not had the chance yet. We would especially like to
welcome all new parents to the School this year.
All RSVP’s or enquiries need to be sent to Anne at aejones07@
iprimus.com.au

Online Ordering

Don’t forget our online
ordering system, please go
to www.flexischools.com.
au or alternatively you are still
able to leave your order at the
far Canteen window before
School starts.

Rice Biscuits 40c

Friday 18 March 2011 at 11.00am at the Villa D‘oro
Please join our existing and new parents for a lovely lunch
and a fashion parade on Friday 18 March 2011 at 11.00am
at the Villa D‘oro.
We would love your company and welcome any donations
that you may be able to offer for raffle and lucky door prizes.

Save the Date - Friday 14 October

2011 Dinner & Auction Night will be on Friday 14 October at
Villa D’Oro Function Centre. Last year we had a great night
and hope to have an even better time this year.

Craft, Cuppa and Chat - It’s Bath Bomb time

Come and get your hands clean making bath bombs for the
Fete. Morning tea will be held at 9.00am Friday 18 March at
183 Mount Keira Road, Mount Keira. Everyone is welcome
to come along and join in some easy crafty fun (no skill
necessary).
If you would like to make something for the Fete but are
short on ideas let us know. We have people willing to donate
materials in kit form that just need assembling eg sewing,
knitting etc.
Any queries please call Cathy Tillotson on 4244 0266

Week 7, Term I

New Product

Deleted Product

Parents’ Welcome Luncheon

Canteen News

We would welcome any
new helpers for 2011 at the
canteen. If you could spare a
few hours once a month, we
would love to have you on
board our team of dedicated
Volunteers.

Grain Waves
(Sweet chilli or sour cream & chives)
$1.20

We would like to welcome all Senior School parents and
friends to join us to discuss the year ahead, including the
Great Fete on Saturday 21 May. Please bring your ideas
with you and we will do our best to bring you up to date on
current events being planned. Any questions please contact
pandf@tigs.com.au or call on 0409 969044.

For more details click here.

Year 10 2011 ‘Meet the Parents Evening’

Anne Jones and Kathy Adams

The first Orana (Senior School) Meeting for 2011 will be held
on Monday 14 March at 7.00pm in the Library.

Parents UniAdvice
UOW UniAdvice would like to offer the parents of Year 12 students the option of joining the Parents UniAdvice mailing list.
Parents on this list will be contacted throughout the year via email. We understand that people’s lives are busy, so we
won’t swamp you with useless information. Just relevant UOW information. Our aim is to help parents understand the many
processes involved in applying to and starting uni, and make the journey less confusing and stressful for both student and
parent. Any parent or carer is welcome to join the mailing list. Joining the list is easy and the best way for us to help you in the
year ahead. You can register for this list on one of the below methods:
• Online: Complete the online form
• Email: Send an email to uniadvice@uow.edu.au advising that you would like to join the Parents UniAdvice email list. Please
include your full name, your child’s full name, their date of birth and school (this information will help us match you to your
child’s record here at UniAdvice if they have already contacted UOW or visited on Discovery Day).
• Phone: Call UniAdvice on 1300 367 869 between 8.30am and 5.00pm, Monday to Friday.

and their works are currently on show upstairs in the ‘Lee and me’ Café/
Lachlan Gray - Year 10
Sophie Meyerson - Year 10
Stella Crick - Year 11 (winner)
Georgia Bovingdon - Year 11
Tiara Dobbs - Year 11
Alex Whale - Year 12
Georgia Matts - Year 12

Opening Hours: Weekdays 7.00am to 5.00pm
Weekends 8.00am to 4.00pm
All works will be for sale from the School once the exhibition has closed in store and all proceeds will be donated to the Year
12 charity “Express Yourself”
Please email any inquiries to Dani Green dgreen@tigs.nsw.edu.au

TIGS Extended Craft and
Outdoor play
We have been having so much fun
at TIGS Extended. The children enjoy
craft and going outside for free
play. The children have been busy
with finger painting, hand printing,
making wild catchers, butterfly
wands and hama beads.

Beyond Bundanon
Beyond Bundanon is an exciting exhibition held in conjunction with TIGS Expo Day. Students in Year 11 will be displaying work
inspired by their experiences at Riversdale and Bundanon on the Shoalhaven River in the IGC. The exhibition opens Friday 18
at 6.00pm and continues the next day at the Expo. All students and their parents and friends are very welcome. Students in
Year 10 are encouraged to come along and experience what studying Creative Arts subjects is like.

Senior School Sport
EFA State Championships Interschool held
at Sydney International Equestrian Centre
on Friday 4 March.
The following students competed at this
event: Lauren O’Neil (Year 8), Charli Morelli
(Year 6), Julia Devitt (Year 6).
Congratulations to Charli Morelli (Year 6)
who competed in the 3 phase showman
event which has 3 main disciplines:
Dressage, Rider Class and In Hand class to
allow a combined score to receive a 1st
place result.
NASSA Cricket
Our Junior Team played Penrith Anglican in
Round 3 of this competition and remained
undefeated with excellent victory.
TIGS batted first scoring 8-238 from their
40 overs. Jonathan Fowles 93 and Calum
Waldock 52 combined with 130 run
partnership after we lost 3 early wickets.
Adrian Haise 19 and Samuel Gibbs 14
scored quick run boosting our score over
200.
In reply Penrith were dismissed for 102.
Wicket takers included Joel Moore2 -9,
Issac Osbourne 2-6, Kyle Locke 1-11, Raman
Wadhwa 1-5, Jessie Price 1-20 and Samuel
Gibbs 1-10.
NSW CIS Recognition
Congratulations to the following students
who have been recognised from NSWCIS
with a sports medallion for their outstanding
results in 2010:
Emily Debrot (Year 12) – Athletics
Tegan Richards (Year 11) – Hockey
Kieran Ackhurst ( Year 9) - Volleyball
Nassa Swimming Carnival
Last week the senior school took 41
students to the NASSA swimming carnival
at Homebush. The team was captained
by Jason Bujaroski and Olivia Wallace who
lead the School team to a great victory.
TIGS won all four shields: Junior,
Intermediate, Senior and Overall. It was a
fantastic team effort with our overall final
point score greater than 500 points our
nearest competitor St Luke’s Grammar,
Dee Why.
It was rewarding to watch the team work
together and help each other throughout
the night. Many students backed up race
after race to represent the School.
Thank you to David McKeon (alumni 2010),
Penny Killen (alumni 2005) and Amit Balgi
(alumni 2008) who came to help on the
evening. Well done to Mr McIlwraith our
Master in Charge of Swimming and Ron
McKeon on these great results.
We wish all students who have been
successful in making the NASSA Swimming
Team the best of luck at the upcoming AICES
swimming carnival on the Wednesday 23

To keep up-to-date with the latest news and events that are happening in and around our School, we encourage
you to subscribe to the email Newsletter.
Simply visit our website: www.tigs.nsw.edu.au and sign up on the home page.